Effect of fruit load on the photosynthetic capacity and on the ecological light use efficiency of an apple orchard
In many horticultural crops, fruit load is known to have a direct effect on photosynthesis and dry matter production.
In this study we analyzed the effect of the different fruit load occurred in five successive growing seasons, on the photosynthetic capacity (Fm) and the ecological light use efficiency (Ɛecol) of an apple orchard where photosynthesis (GPP) was continuously derived from eddy covariance measurements of net carbon exchange.
Both Fm and Ɛecol were statistically different between high (HFL) and low (LFL) fruit load seasons in September and when considering August, September and October as a single group (p-value<0.05). A significant direct linear regression (slope = 0.186±0.034) was found between the average Fm of these three months and the amount of fruit production (t ha-1) recorded every year.
Besides the limited number of years of measurements, this study provided evidence of a direct linear effect of the fruit load on the photosynthetic capacity and the ecological light use efficiency of the apple orchard at the ecosystem level, supporting the sink limitation theory.
Zanotelli, D., Scandellari, F., Bastos de Melo, W., Cassol, P. and Tagliavini, M. (2016). Effect of fruit load on the photosynthetic capacity and on the ecological light use efficiency of an apple orchard. Acta Hortic. 1130, 25-32
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1130.4
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1130.4
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1130.4
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1130.4
carbon fluxes, active radiation, light, agro-ecosystem, tree, fruit yield, eddy covariance
English
1130_4
25-32
- Workgroup Orchard and Plantation Systems
- Workgroup Environmental Physiology and Developmental Biology
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Physiology and Plant-Environment Interactions of Horticultural Crops in Field Systems
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Division Protected Cultivation and Soilless Culture
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits